got myself a deal on a m70 lh 7mm rem mag.

don't know much about it though.

input please.

Jeff

It'll make a fine .375 H&H.....

If you are a reloader it is one of the best choices for any game in the lower 48. It'll do a fair job on the rest of North America. If you do not reload you're still in fat city from ground squirrels to moose. roger

Load it with RL 22. Bullets 140 grain thru 175.

I have an Interarms Mk X in 7mm mag with its original barrel bought in the mid 1980's.
It will deliver 3 shot, 1/2"to 3/4" groups at 100 yards.
My load is 150 gn Nosler Partitions, H-4831SC and Fed 210 primers. I don't use Mag primers for this rifle.
I did put a MacMillen sporter stock on it.
Can't say enough good about this rifle.
My son will be using it for Michigan's upcoming Bear hunt. He drew for the first time, and he is PUMPED UP!!!

I have an older Savage 110 (pre accu-trigger) That is a great shooter. The 7mm RM is easy to load for. I use to use 175gr bullets for large game, but changed to 160 gr.
IMR4831 works great. I don't use Ballistic tips as they are to explosive.

I got a Remington Sendero in the 7mm Mag and I love it. Last time I really hunkered down and shot it for tight groups, I got a 10 shot group in a 3/4" group. So I figured that is good enough for a 100yr shooting gallery. I have shot it out to 550 with good success, anything farther than that and I need to do more load development and use target bullets.

My barrel is looking a bit dull however, so im pretty sure the rifle's future will be a 338 Lapua or 338RUM.

quote:

jsl3170

I've owned one since 1964 and I now own several . Some people hate em and some people tolerate em

an some of us just love em !. No matter which category one falls into ,one thing is certain ;

They're extremely versatile !. 100-180 grain bullets loadings mild too wild ! 3600 FPS and down

Prairie Dog too ? Nearly anything Else with the exception of Extremely Dangerous Game and that's somewhat

debatable ; Except in Africa because of Caliber restrictions !.

An people who whine about recoil are either sensitive or using the wrong load for what their doing IMO !.

If some of you Want something to whine about in regards too recoil ; Here check out Saeed and watch that

grimace !. I fired one once in AZ. an I do mean ONCE !. That's a 11K FT. lb. of energy !!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FCY3_5Bg1M

About a year ago I bought my first 7mm Mag simply because it was a good deal, and I wanted it for the action. It's a CZ 550 medium action. Of course I have shot it at the range, and it shoots plenty accurately, and I'm sure I can improve on it with some tweeking and handloads.

I suppose I'm one in the catagory of tolerating the cartridge - I'm not fond of it, but I don't hate it either - I just mostly think of it as a meat mangling waste of time. The problem I have with the 7 mag is that I can't shake the notion that it does nothing that I can't do with my 30-06. I always heard that the 30-06 kicks less, and now I have confirmed it.

So, I believe this rifle has a 10" twist rate, so the lighter bullets should be favored. Although it shoots well and I like the rifle, I can't figure out why I shouldn't just rebarrel it in a real magnum, as I initially intended.

Somebody, give me a reason to keep it in 7 mag. However, I don't go along with the statment that it will shoot from 100gr to 180gr, and everything in between. I generally pick one bullet weight, so I can count on the rifle being sighted in when I'm ready to go. In this case it would probably be one of the 140 gr bullets, such as the Accubond, Interlock, or Barnes. Besides, with the slower twist, I suspect that even the 160gr may not shoot well, and anything heavier a waste of powder.

I just can't see the 7 magnum being any more useful than a 7x57, which is much more plesant, and I enjoy shooting. It's not all about recoil, because I have a 338 WM that I shoot a lot, and enjoy even though it has a lot more recoil than the 7 mag.

IMO, the 338 WM gives a lot back in energy in exchange for that recoil, and it's evident in the math and on game. The 338 actually looks pretty efficient to me considering powder burned and bullet energy and trajectory rendered. People talk about long range with the 7 mag - heck I would a lot rather whack a moose or black bear at 400 yds with a good 225gr .338 bullet, than anything out of a 7 mag. Ya gonna get kicked either way, so ya might as well throw a real bullet their way.

Again, my distaste of the 7 mag is simply because I consider it inefficient, and giving nothing that a 30-06 can't do. but kicks harder to boot. For the type of game (deer & hogs) and ranges that I would use a rifle in this class for, I would rather be using a 7x57 or 6.5x55 or a 308. It may be just a frame of mind, but I consider the 7 mag a waste of powder.

That's where I'm at with it. I've tried unsuccessfully to be open minded about it. I'm willing to listen, and I promise that I won't criticise you if you favor the cartridge. I would actually like to be convinced of the special merits of the cartridge, but I don't know of any. Enlighten me.

KB

KB, I hunted with a 7 mag back in the 1960s and 1970s. Killed a lot of deer with it. Nearly all DRT. I used the Hornady 139gr. spire point loaded using a mid 1960 reloading manual(before lawyer proofing). The loads listed then was quite a bit hotter than what you see in today's loading manuals and I loaded the max. A word of warning- the 2 7 mags I load for now will not take those loads.

I shot loads ranging from 115gr. to 175 grain and noticed I would always get practicaly the same point of impact. One day I stepped off 200 long cotton middle type steps (38 inch centers) and placed a range pellet feed sack on a pine tree. I shot a 115gr. h.p. handload, a 139 gr. handload, a 150gr. factory load, a 154gr. handload, and a 175gr. factory load. The 5 shot vertical group was covered with a half dollar.

I also have a 7x57 which I've killed quite a few deer with. The deer was seldom DRT (guess I wasn't holding my mouth right) but didn't go far and was easy to find.

The biggest difference I saw was the range I shot things (wild dogs, crows,etc.) across the pasture with the 7 mag would really had been a stretch for the 7x57. It just boils down to what you want.

And yes, the 7 may had plenty of recoil. FWIW, a 300 mag is my go to now.

Joe A.

Joe,
It's nice to hear from a fellow Southerner. I haven't read or heard the saying about holding your mouth right since I was down South. I'm originally from Georgia - you know the state you drive into going East, where you set your watch ahead one hour -- and twenty years.

I hear that 7 mags are popular in that whole region, as so-called bean field rifles. The thing is that since my rifle has the slow twist, and I just so happen to have fetched from storage a plactic box containing several hundred of the old Hornady 139gr 7mm bullets, that I ought to load some up and see what it will do at the range. I also found similar boxes of 140gr Sierras, and some 145gr Speers too, that I had forgotten about.

Maybe I'll post a range report, if it's something to brag about.

Regards,
KB

The 7 mag is a great cartridge and one of the most popular in sales.With the right bullet it won't tear up meat any worse than another.I personally don't see the need for mags for the most part but if you like them it's one of the best.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
It'll make a fine .375 H&H.....

I second that one

As a lifelong 270 fan and more to the Winchester side than the Rem side I did not get to the 7MM Mag until later. It cerainly does the job as we have had one for my son for a while.

I had the .338 Win and then the 416 Rem Mag so I rounded out the stable with a Winchester Laredo LRH in 7MM Mag for several reasons. First I hope it is accurate and does not require working on it. And out at my buddies farm he built a BIG moveable target stand (if you have a tractor to move it ) and he wants to try the long range stuff. Both of us. So I hope this will get me going on that as we can shoot 300-500 yards to 1000 yards as we want. Then we might give those long coyotes a go from there.

jsl3170, The 160gr accubond, and RL22 is a proven combination in the 7mm Mag. It will handle a wide variety of game, and is accurate at longer ranges. Enjoy your new rifle!

I think the 7mm Rem mag is a great cartridge. I've had two of them. I've used them on two African hunts making one shot kills on a variety of Plains Game from Duiker to Kudu. Also used one in northern Canada for Caribou and Musk ox, and here in Montana for Pronghorn, Whitetail, and Elk.

My current 7 mag is a Stainless Rem 700 in a plastic Rem stock that shoots 160 gr Accubonds MOA. It's my bad weather backup gun for anything we hunt in Montana.

Except for Alaska's Brown bears, I'd feel comfortable using my 7mm Rem mag for any big game in North America.

Saying things like the 7 mag is a great cartridge, and feeling comfortable using it for any big game in N.A. is very close to saying the exact same thing about the 30-06, except IMO the 30-06 is far more suitable as a minimum for brown bear, since the 200gr .308 bullet is an option.

Here's why:

I ran the numbers on the Hornady ballistic calculator, and looked up the velocities on Hodgdon/Speer load data.

7x57: 50grs H4350 / 145 Speer SPBT / SD .257 BC .472
MV 2784/2534KE -- 100yds 2608vel/2190KE -- 300yds 2247vel/11625KE
Sighted in to zero at 200 yds, drop at 300 is 7.7"

7 mag: 64grs H4831 / 162 Hornady SPBT / SD .287 BC .514
MV 2871/2965KE -- 100yds 2686vel/2596KE -- 300yds 2339vel/1968KE
Sighted in to zero at 200 yds, drop at 300 is 7.1"

30-06: 59grs H4350 / 165 Sierra SPBT / SD .248 BC .404
MV 2938/3162KE -- 100yds 2707vel/2685KE -- 300yds 2279vel/1903KE
Sighted in to zero at 200 yds, drop at 300 is 7.2"

Medium game, stray dogs, coyotes, etc would be in just as much trouble whether I took a shot with a 160gr from 7 mag or 145gr from 7x57. I would be no more or less likely to make the hit with either gun, and not likely to be able to tell the difference in results. 1/2 inch drop at 300 yds isn't going to make any difference to me.

Things change with 180 gr and heavier in the 30-06, which is not an option with the 7mag.

338WM: 72grs H4350 / 225 Nosler AB / SD .281 BC .550
MV 2800/3917KE -- 100yds 2635vel/3468KE -- 300yds 2321vel/2692KE
Sighted in to zero at 200 yds, drop at 300 is 7.4"

KB

Kabluewy, I think you might want to check your numbers. I think you'll find that sighted in for 200yds, the drop at 300yds is going to be in the area of 7-8 inches--on average.

You are right about the drop. I read the wrong numbers. I have revised my posting to reflect the correction.

Thanks,
KB

Kabluewy, If the concern is heavy, well constructed bullets, don't forget about the 175gr partition. Considering that Jeff lives in Maine, he's probably not as concerned about the big bears as you are.

I understand about the bears.

I edited the info to include the 338 WM, which demonstrates what I mean by saying that to get any real appreciable improvment in the delivery of thump out there - beyond what the 30-06 can provide, the 338 does the trick.

The 30-06 and 7 mag are peas in a pod. Ya gotta get more at the muzzel to get more at 300 yds.

My point is that saying the 7mag is as good of a hunting cartridge for medium game as is the 30-06 is actually a compliment to the 7mag, and as a practical matter those who think the 7mag is superior to the 30-06 in any way, IMO are dreaming.

KB

quote:

I edited the info to include the 338 WM, which demonstrates what I mean by saying that to get any real appreciable improvment in the delivery of thump out there - beyond what the 30-06 can provide, the 338 does the trick.

The 30-06 and 7 mag are peas in a pod.

Yes, I have to agree with you. The 30.06 and 7mm mag are 2 great medium work horse calibers. But for those wanting a great heavy North American work horse the .338 Win Mag really is hard to beat.

Kabluewy, MV of my 7RM with 160gr bullets far exceeds the 2871 listed. My real world chrono'd loads with RL 22 or Retumbo are between 3000 and 3100 with a 25" barrel.I get 2950 from the 175gr Partition using Retumbo. Drop those MV into it and you'll see why people like them.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:

Things change with 180 gr and heavier in the 30-06, which is not an option with the 7mag.

KB

That makes no sense as what you're saying "is not an option for the 7mag" in reality is an important option for the 7mag and was a major reason for its invent and pretty much sums up the purpose behind the 7mm Remington Magnum. The 7mag gives you a juiced up 30-06 for extended range with the added benifit of low recoil when compared to the larger magnums. In addition, you can still reach a sectional density greater than .300 for penetration on large game when using a 175grain bullet. You must go much heavier with the 30 cal to reach this sectional density and you lose extended range trajectory and/or gain recoil. But of course, for the really big end of the scale with the biggest North American bear, you'd probably be better off with at least a .30 caliber minimum. This is probably the reason the 7mm Remington Magnum has stayed as one of the more popular cartridges worldwide all these years with its all around versatility just like an extended range 30-06, with low recoil, being good for all NA game, and being outstanding with its +.300 sectional density on large game with the exception of the largest end of the scale.

The 30-06 is great in its own place, but it does not have the juice to duplicate this, and the 338WM is a different cup of tea with its bigger magnum recoil. What you will see is a trend of those who have been hunting big heavy game such as moose at extended range with the 30-06 in areas with little likelyhood of running into very big bears, switch from the 30-06 to the 7mm Mag while saving the 338 and bigger magnums for areas with the very big bears. Quite a few may forgo all this by splitting the difference in choosing the 300WM as their all-around pick.

Best

OK. Excellent analysis and feedback. Thanks for arguing with me.

So, I found a partial box of Nosler 140 gr Accubonds on the shelf, which ought to be a good test, based on the accuracy results I've had with the ABs in other cartridges. I hope to get some loaded up and get to the range this weekend. I'll probably just shoot for accuracy, and deal with the crony later, since my buddy with the loaner crony is on a trip.

If the darn thing is accurate, I may just learn to like the 7mag after all. Really, with that light bullet, and the slow twist, it will surely shoot faster than anything I've got or ever had - so that's something special all by itself.

I'm already thinking of that soybean field back in Georgia, or that pipeline in Texas, or perhaps that nice sheltered stand overlooking the clearcut and field about 380 yds across in East Texas - the place where I had to pass up a clear shot at about a dozen 80lb pigs feeding on the far end. I can't think of a more perfect rifle for those situations, if it just shoots well.

KB

Reloader 22 is a great powder for the 140 Accubonds. Good Luck with it.

I bought my Rem. 700 in 7mm mag in 1963; many guns sence, but it is what goes hunting. Elk hunt this fall, it may the last as we are both getting OLD. I could NEVER go on a trip without it. Best of luck, good hunting. Jack

Kabluey,

A good 7mm mag will easily give you the following speeds. I own a Sako L61 and have handloaded for a friends Tikka T3 and Renington 700.

140 grain @ 3300 fps
150 grain @ 3200 fps
160 grain @ 3100 fps
175 grain @ 3000 fps.

Run your ballistic program on that and compare to the 7mm Msuser, 308 etc. I own a lovely Rigby Mauser in 275 and love hunting with it, but in no way do the mild cartriges compare to Remington's big 7mm.

Try it in the field (properly loaded) and you'll fall in love with it. It is a great, great cartridge.

I've got 2 7mm mags now. One proven in the field with 150 btips on a ton of game, the other I have yet to shoot. It's a predator action, Krieger bbl, Jewel trigger, and McMillan stock.

I plan on using only the 168 or 180 Berger in it with H1000 or Retumbo, Nosler brass and 215M primers.

quote:

input please.

Well, it's nearly as good as a .30-06 and that's very good indeed. Enjoy it.

I went to the range today, and the rifle shoots accurately. I'm still testing loads, so I'll probably go back tomorrow.

KB

Guys, I have had a 7mag for over 40 years now. It's on a Savage action, the very old one. I have shot just about everything that I have ever wanted to shoot with it and have not had any problems loading, cycling ammo, or killing anything with it. Even in Africa with planes game. Yes I have moved up a few notches with a .338 and a .375H&H but here in the states I still want to use my old meat getter. I have reloaded some cases many more times than recomended and they still go boom ,extract well, and no splits. At now 63 my days are just about over for ging afield with it, but I sure hope that my son will continue to use it and his sons as well. The rifle was purchased new in the late 60's when I was about 21 so after all of these years it still works.
To me about the only thing that I can say about new rifles, ammo, and all of the rest of it is that writers need to write collums, manufactures need to make things, jobbers need to make a proffit, retailers need someting new so they can sell sell sell. Old guns still kill everything well.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
Again, my distaste of the 7 mag is simply because I consider it inefficient, and giving nothing that a 30-06 can't do. but kicks harder to boot.

I shoot mine with 140-grain Noslers, a medium load. I still have a few 175-grain loads from a long-ago moose hunt, don't know if I'll ever use them up. The difference between a 7mm Remington and 30-06 for deer-sized game is mostly in point-blank range, useful at times.

Both of my hunting partners shoot 30-06, and so did my father, they seemed content with them. On the other hand, I haven't actually needed anything other than the 7mm. The other rifles are more for entertainment.

I own a 7mm rem. mag.that rifle is the real good
at small groups. I used it for bore hunting. and it killed my bore while the bore was running

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:
I went to the range today, and the rifle shoots accurately. I'm still testing loads, so I'll probably go back tomorrow.

KB

Sunday, I went to the range again, with different loads, and 154gr bullets. The best groups I got were with the 140gr Accubonds and 66 gr of RL22, at slightly less than an inch. Everything else opened up, some loads opened a lot.

I did learn a few things. The chamber on this rifle seems to be a good one. I set the FL dies up a turn or two, so I could only partially size the previously fired brass. (fired in this rifle) The result was a good snug fit and the bolt easily closed. I did this twice with the same results. I don't know how many times I have to fire before having to FL size again.

I also learned that the chamber has a short throat, so it's no trouble to set the bullet off the lands just enough. I haven't figured what just enough is yet, but it's there to do, and unlike some chambers with long throats, this one is right IMO.

So, I'm thinking the rifle has potential to be accurate with the right load and some tweeking. For a factory chamber, it seems to be a really good one. Even with mild loads, it's still fast.

It's kinda difficult to think seriously about replacing a good barrel.

I can see why the 7 mag would appeal to some guys. It's impossible to fill the case and get a slightly compressed load with any of the powders I have, so I can see why some just add more powder and get all that velocity. Based on my initial tests, the accuracy got worse as the velocity, and pressure, increased. I went a few grains over book max, with no other sign of pressure, except the groups opened up.

KB

When you find that accurate load and are able to shoot that hog, deer, coyote, or elk at out to 325 yards without having to think anything but point and shoot - then you know why so many of us just don't feel right leaving the 7mm home if we plan to hunt.

I've got a 30-06 that is great - but it doesn't give me the same confidence on longer shots period. You can lump all of the medium calibers together and their performance is similar but that 7 Rem Mag is near the top of the heap and brass, bullets or loaded ammo is available everywhere just like the 30-06.....only a little faster.

Kabluewy, your load of 66gr RL22 clocks 3292 AVG out of my rifle w/25" barrel and is my most accurate load for that bullet.